Distracted driving (via AAA)

Distracted driving poses a risk to everyone on the road and remains a significant contributor to motor vehicle crashes. Learn more about distracted driving risks, tips for drivers, state distracted driving laws, and steps AAA is taking to address the issue.

Mental Distractions Behind the Wheel Are Real and Potentially Dangerous

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety partnered with researchers at the University of Utah to conduct groundbreaking research on mental distraction, also known as cognitive distraction. This research shows that hands-free technologies in the car can dangerously divert driver attention, even at seemingly safe moments. learn more about the research:

MENTAL DISTRACTION – WHAT WE KNOWMental distractions can dangerously affect drivers behind the wheel and can linger long after completing a distracting activity. Keeping your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel isn’t enough to eliminate driver distraction – hands-free is not risk-free.

MENTAL DISTRACTION – WHAT IT MEANSAttention is key to safe driving, yet many technologies can cause drivers to lose focus of the road ahead. Hands-free and voice-command features, increasingly common in new vehicles, may create mental distractions that unintentionally provide motorists with a false sense of security about their safety behind the wheel.

MENTAL DISTRACTION – WHAT IS AAA DOINGAAA is dedicated to promoting road safety and reducing driver distraction through research, public education and collaboration with automakers to reduce the impact of mental distraction.

Additional Resources

Read the studies on mental distraction by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety: